Explosive.



UNITED STATEg PATENT OFFICE.

.. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed August 17, 1904. Serial No. 221,134.

lated explosive or powder is produced in which the protective mass or element forms an mtegral constituent part of each grain of the powder or explosive, so that the compound without this protective element would not form an explosive at all. This protective mass is only oxidizable to a very slight'degree and is consequently well suited for the mechanical combination with an oxidizing agent such as chlorate, permanganate, or nitrate of potash, 620., because the mass can only be intentionally exploded by means of detonating-caps or the like. The protective mass consists of a mixture of resin and either cereal starch-meal, starch, or meal, the said mixture being then nitrated with nitric acid.

The resin of any kind is very finely powderedabout fine enough to pass a mesh No. 100. powdered starch or flour'of any kind. This mixture is immersed in nitric acid of about 42" Baum. The acid is absorbed by the mixture and immediately commences to act violently. As soon as the product has a tained a state of full chemical action it is removed from the acid and suddenly immersed in cold water, which has the effect of immediately stopping the'chemical reaction. After having been allowed to cool it is pulverized and washed in clear cold water, and when dried it is ready for use.

Although the proportions may vary within certain limits, the product should consist substantially of about 46.47 per cent. carbon, 3.76 per cent. hydrogen, 6.58 per cent. nitrogen, 4327 per cent. oxygen.

Under no circumstances should the nitration be effected by means of sulfuric acid,

It is then intimately mixed with finely because if even the slightest traces of the latter remain after the washing the decomposition and spontaneous ignition of the powder will readily take place. The intensive oxidation during nitration takes place quietly and a yellow to yellowish-orange colored porous cake is formed, which floats on the acid and which under the microscope is shown to be an amorphous homogeneous mass, which is particularly well suited to form the protective element of an explosive, the other constituent part of which is the oxidizing agent, such, for instance, as a chlorate, permanganate, or nitrate of potash.

In order to combine the chlorate, permanganate, or nitrate of potash with the nitrated mixture of resin and starch-meal, the two compounds are intimately mixed together and then granulated in the known manner. The mixture should contain from ten to twentyfive per cent. of the nitro compound and from ninety to seventy-five per cent. of the oxidizing agent. I advantageously employ from seventy-five to ninety per cent. chlorate of potash and from twenty-five to ten per cent. of the nitrated body. In some cases I have found it advantageous to mix from one-half to five per cent. of powdered aluminium with the above ingredients.

- I know that resin alone has been nitrated and used for explosives, also that starch has been nitrated; but to make nitrated starch sulfuric acid has to be employed, and sulfuric acid has been avoided in order to render the product absolutely safethat is, not liable to spontaneous combustion or changeviz., decomposition in course of time. I am also War hat a uminium has been used in connection with explosive-mixtures; but it has never been used to my knowledge in combination with the above-mentioned ingredients.

I claim as my invention 1. An explosive compound consisting of a nitrated mixture of resin with a vegetable meal and an oxidizing agent, substantially as described.

2. An explosive compound, consisting of a nitrated mixture of resin with starch-meal and an oxidizing agent substantially as described.

3. An explosive compound consisting of a nitrated mixture of resin with starch-meal and chlorate of potash substantially as described.

4. An explosive compound consisting of a l five per ce-ni. of powdered aluminium substannitrated mixture of resin with a vegetable tially as described. I0 meal, an oxidizing agent ands, small percentlln witness whereof I have hereunto set my age of powdered aluminium substantially as hand in presence of two Witnesses. described. EVERARD STEELE.

5. An explosive compound consisting of a Witnesses: nitrated mixture of resin with e vegemlole HENRY HASPER,

meal, an oxidizing agent; and from one-half to ,l. WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

